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| ISU Debate Team at Pi Kappa Delta Natinals |
The Idaho State University Rupp Debate Team recently brought
home a pair of third place wins from the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive
Tournament in Nashville, TN, March 13-18, 2018.
Bengal Debaters were named 3rd Place Overall in Division II
Sweepstakes . The national tournament hosts 82 competitor colleges and
universities from 26 states and three countries.
Idaho State also claimed 3rd Place in the Division I Debate
Sweepstakes with a tie between two of its own teams. Bengal speakers closed out the Public Forum
Debate semifinals when sophomore Jack Bradley and freshman Kaden Marchetti tied
for third with ISU’s other freshman duo of Connor Coutts and Alex Vail.
Marchetti was additionally honored as fifth speaker overall
in the Public Forum debate competition, an accolade presented for high quality
execution and presentation in argumentative public speaking.
The Overall Sweepstakes award determined by combining the
total accumulated speaker points in both debate and individual events in the
competition. Schools require
participation in both competitive speaking forms in order to qualify for the
sweepstakes honors.
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| Nick Grunig |
Squad President Nick Grunig said “This is a great way to end
our traveling season! It shows what the team can do when we really focus on
achieving our goals and put in a little extra effort.”
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| Kaden Marchetti & Jack Bradley |
“Our team functions incredibly well as a competitive
unit. Everyone has remarkable skills,
but not everyone generally finds their way into the final rounds in stiff
competition,” said Andy Christensen, the team’s Assistant Coach. “Still, the collective contributions of each
member on the squad earned us a national accolade. It’s a well-deserved tribute
to the efforts of the group who operate as a team first, and as individuals
second.”
The Bengals had entries in collegiate NFA-Lincoln Douglas, International
Public Debate (IPDA), and Public Forum debate styles. The Public Forum topic argued at the tournament
was “In the United States, changing the process of presidential election to
popular vote is justified to preserve democracy.” In the IPDA format, debaters have a new topic
for each round and 30 minutes to prepare their cases.
In addition to debate, the speakers participated in individual
event contests including Impromptu speaking, Extemporaneous speaking, After
Dinner speaking, and Slam Poetry.
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| Conner Coutts & Alex Vail |
The team’s Head Coach is Dr. Sarah Partlow-Lefevre. “This makes me very proud of the entire
team. They have worked hard this year
and it’s a fantastic way to end the travel season. There’s nothing like the
energy and experience at a National tournament.”
